Means for making floor coverings moth repellent



Nov. 13, 1934. P SAPQNOFF 1,980,598

MEANS FOR MAKING FLOOR COVERINGS MOTH REPELLENT Filed Aug. l0, 1932 WIR- Iliff 3 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT :OFFICE MEANS FOR MAKING FLOOR COVERINGS n v v MOTH REPELLENT Lubomir P. Saponoff, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application August 10,

4 Claims.

ThisA invention relates in general to coverings or pads for floors and stairways, and it has particular reference to means for making such devices moth or insect repellent, which object I accomplish by novel constructions and arrangements of the assembled parts of the device, whereby air is caused to be agitated and circulated within and about the device, as will be readily understood from the accompanying illustrations and the detailed description hereinafter given.

I have illustrated different embodiments of my invention in the accompanying drawing, where- 1n;

f Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a portion of a stairway, with the treads and risers thereof provided with one form of my device, the pad on the lower tread being partly broken away at one end to show the construction thereof.

Figure 2 shows an enlarged vertical cross-sec 20 tional View of a modified form of the device arranged upon the iloor.

Figure- 3 shows an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of another form of my device arranged upon the floor.

Figures 4 and 5 show enlarged cross-sectional Views, respectively, of two modied forms of my device, mounted upon the floor.

Referring to the drawing in which like numerals of reference designate like parts throughout, in 30 the form in Fig. l, 2 indicates the riser and 3, the tread and landing of a stairway which is shown in part. Upon the tread and also the landing is mounted my improved pad or cushion 4, the construction of this form being as follows; the underside is provided with a bottom or backing sheet 5, having air openings or perforations 6, disposed well over the body of the sheet for the purpose of permitting free passage of air through the sheet. Upon the backing sheet 5, is placed a sheet or 'layer 7, of pliable fabric or felt, such for example as the soft flexible material ordinarily used beneath carpets or rugs. This intermediate felt sheet '7, may carry or be impregnated with any of the well known moth-proof substances, such ,as camphor, moth-iiakes or cedar preparations, though the device may be used without employing moth-prooiing substance, and the action of the forced currents of air within the pad may be relied upon for protecting the top cover or piece of carpet 8, which is placed directly over the felt-sheet 7, in this form of the device, and which forms the exterior or ornamental part of the device, which is trod upon by the foot of a person in walking over the pad.

These three sheets 5, 7 and 8, are substantially 1932, Serial N0. 628,227

(Cl. ,Z0-79) of the same dimensions and are secured together by means of a binding 9, extending around the.` four edges thereof and'made of any suitable'ma-,` terial, such as suitable metal which may be bent around the edges in U-shape, and the device held in place on the floor by means-of ordinary nails or screws, indicated at 10. With the stairtreadV pady may be used a protector device 11, havingzal carpet facing of the same materiali as sheetfS,vv with the upper or verticalpart provided with a"-.65;-,1` binding 9, attached to the riser by nails 10. The lower end of the riser carpet 11, is extended beyond the binding so as to leave a flexiblefiap 12,4

which lies upon the tread 1, beneath the rear end'f ofthe pad device on the tread. The rear portion i. of binding 9, of the pad is pressed snugly against the vertical part of the riser protector withY a crevice 13, formed between theltwo.` With this' relation of thetwo contacting devices, the forcible action of the agitated or circulated air vcomingf'li from the pad on the tread, as hereinafter ex-v plained, the riser protector is kept moth-proof and the crevice 13, is prevented from housing moth or insects, as might otherwise be the case.

In the form of the device shown in Fig. 2,' 8G11- only two sheets of material are used, one beingY the backing sheet 5, with its perforations 6, and the other the top cover or carpet 8, Athe same being-held together'by binding 9,- and=placed7= upon the iloor 3, with the underside of backing m sheet or plate 5, free from the floor so that there is provided a desired air-space 14, which is also present in the form shown in Fig. 1. This simple form may be used without employing any moth-proong substance and reliance placed upon the action of the air to prevent the carpet being attacked by moth or insects.

In the form of the device shown in Fig. 3, there is added to the structure of Fig. 2, a layer or suitable body of moth-proonng substance as indicated at 15. In this Fig. 3, I show how the device may be .applied to an extended floor surface 3, rather than a limited space of a stairtread, the device being broken-away at the center 16, and the edges of the carpet with its backing ma' sheet 5, being fastened to the iioor by ordinary carpet-tacks 17. Y

In the form of the device shown in Fig. 4, there is added to the structure of Fig. 1, lling or padding 18, of suitable soft material, such for example as raw cotton, which is placed between the underside of the carpet 8, and the upperside of the felt sheet '7, which rests on the backing sheet 5, having perforations 6, and disposed di- 1m rectly upon the oor 3, but loose thereon so that it may vibrate.

In the form of the device shown in Fig. 5, I employ the perforated backing sheet 5, resting upon the floor, with the cotton lling or padding 18, between the backing sheet and a layer of ordinary flexible oil-cloth 19, over which is stretched the carpet 8. The oil-cloth 19, is used to exclude dirt or dust from the carpet 8, entering the padding below the cloth and while the oil-cloth may somewhat check the action of the air, it does not stop it.

In each of the described forms of the device, the air-space 14, between the floor 3, and the perforated backing plate'or sheet 5, serves to give a bellows-like or pumping Iaction upon the air, whenever the carpet 8, is trod upon by the foot of a person walking on the carpet. The air confined in space 14, is thus expelled and new air inducted and forced in and about the device with an agitation of suicient violence to serve as a positive repellent for moths or any insects that are apt to seek a housing in a device of this character, it being well known that moth and otherinsects do not attack or lodge in fabrics when the same are shaken or moved occasionally, instead of` remaining at rest or unmolested. The exterior air is thus brought into play from the floor, and from the/surroundings of the devicek and by the squeezing or pumping action produced by the vibrationv of the perforated backing sheet in relation to the oor and the material above the sheet, such air action o-r agitation is alone made to lserve the purpose of moth repellence, so

fthatl moth-proong substance may be dispensed with, although, I show how it may be utilized in connection with my improvements. The sheet 5, will functionwhen resting iiatlyupon the floor or when bowed or bent downwardly, instead of upwardly as shown.

lThe bottom or floor plate 5, may be made of any well known suitable material. I have used card or bre board with good results and nd it stiff enough to keep its shape and it has resiliency suicient to provide the pulsating or vibrating action upon the floor surface. If preferred,

the bottom plate may be made of suitable metalv of a resilient character. In any case the relation of the bottomsheet 5, to the surface of the so f 1,980,598 I floor, is such that the air is expelled and sucked or drawn in by the action of the perforated sheet in its cooperation with the assembled parts and it will be noted that the air-space indicated in the drawing at 14, is exaggeratedin its depth for the sake of clearness, as it may be minimized by the sheet resting flatly upon the flooror the sheet, may be bowed downwardly at its center, instead of upwardly. If a perfume will be added it will scent the surroundings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: f

l. A floor covering comprisingva top cover or carpet, and a subjacent perforated air-agitating bottom sheet adapted to rest upon the floor with an air-space between its under side and the-floor so that the compressing action of the foot in treading upon the top cover or carpet serves to agitate the air above said floor.

2. A floor covering comprising a top cover o carpet. a subjacent perforated lair-expelling sheet arranged with its under surface in free contact with the floor, an air-space between said sheet and floor, and moth-proof material disposed between `said floor sheet and the upper surface of the top cover, the compressing action of the foot upon said top cover serving to vibrate the floor sheet and circulate the air.

3. A floor covering comprising a top cover or` carpet, a subjacent perforated airpumping bottom sheet adapted yto rest upon the floor with an air-space between its under surface and the floor so that the compressing action of the foot by the foot in treading upon it, and a riser pro` tector disposed against it attached to the riser of the tread and placed in contact with the pad, so that the riser-protector is subjected to the action of the air expelled from the pad.

LUBOMIR P. SAPONOFF. 

